I'm thinking about having a disc replacement at my L34 spine. How safe are these things?Safety is a major concern for any company producing devices such as an artificial disc replacement (ADR). Joint wear and fatigue failure are two of the most common problems.

Testing for particle debris showed very minor wear. Motion early on in the life of the implant produced larger particles. Some light scratches were seen on the load-bearing surface of the device. These changes were hard to see and didn't cause any problems with motion later.

There is certainly room for more testing of these devices. Some patients have had an ADR for upwards of 10 years or more. Long-term results will be reported as time goes by. For now, the consensus of studies is that they are both safe and effective for the right patient.